Combined perfume product package and seed carrier

ABSTRACT

A perfume or perfumed product which is associated with a package having seeds impregnated within or otherwise associated therewith. In one embodiment, the seeds are impregnated within or on, or otherwise associated with, the packaging material, and are adapted to be planted in soil to permit the seeds to grow. Alternatively, the seeds may simply reside in a pouch or other container which is disposed within or otherwise associated with the package, where the seeds may be planted in soil to permit the seeds to grow. The seeds grow one or more botanicals that correspond to one or more ingredients of the perfume or perfumed product contained within the package so that the purchaser of the product may grow plants that smell like one or more of the ingredients of the perfume or perfumed product.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)(1) upon U.S.Application Ser. No. 61/497,807 which was filed on Jun. 16, 2011,entitled “Combined Perfume Product Package and Seed Carrier”, and isincorporated herein by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to product packaging apparatus and systems, and,more particularly, relates to a product package for perfume and perfumedproducts having associated therewith a seed-carrying element which isadapted to be planted in soil for the purpose of germinating the seeds.

2. Background

Packaging for retail consumer products has been provided in a myriad ofshapes, combinations, configurations and arrangements. In fact, there isno limit to the number and variety of available packaging arrangements.

The primary motivating factors which dictate the design of any givenpackaging vary from product to product and supplier to supplier. Theprincipal object of any product packaging is to house the product safelyand provide a means for displaying the product, or at least thepackaging, at the point of purchase. The more attractive the packaging,from either or both an aesthetic or psychological perspective, the morelikely a consumer is to purchase the product.

Some packaging designers have incorporated novelty features, productenhancements, accessories and related items into packaging in order toincrease the perceived value to the consumer. One of the most notoriousexamples of this is the ubiquitous cereal box with a child's toy inside.Children find the allure of knowing that there is a toy inside a cerealbox irresistible, causing them to demand that it be purchased for them.

Recently, there has been a strong push toward environmentally friendlypackaging, such as reduced packaging sizes, use of reduced packagingvolume and/or materials and use of degradable materials. Such degradablepackaging has also been provided with flower seeds associated therewith,such that the packaging can be placed in soil once the product has beenremoved from it, and the seeds therein permitted to germinate.

It has not, however, been proposed to incorporate seeds in or with thepackaging for a perfume or perfumed product which seeds grow plantswhich constitute actual ingredients of the particular perfume housedwithin the packaging. Such an arrangement would provide an additionalstimulus for consumers to purchase the product, and provide a means forthe consumer to replace the plant that was used to make the product,creating a self-sustaining product.

The most practical way to describe a perfume is by the elements of thefragrance elements or “notes” of the scent, or the “family” it belongsto, all of which affect the overall olfactory impression of a perfumefrom first application to the last lingering hint of scent.

Top notes, which are also referred to as head notes, are those scentsthat are immediately perceived when applying the perfume. These notesare made of light molecules that evaporate quickly, thus creating theperson's first impression of the perfume. Ginger and citrus are bothpopular choices for top notes.

Middle notes, also referred to as the heart or the main body of theperfume, are those scents that come to be perceived after the scent fromthe top notes have evaporated. This part of the perfume can actuallyseem unpleasant at first, hence being masked by the top notes. Overtime, however, the scent becomes more pleasant. Rose and lavender arecommonly used in order to create the middle notes.

The base notes are what are smelled after the middle notes dissipate.The base notes are meant to help provide the top and middle notes withadded strength. Some base notes can still be smelled up to 24 hoursafter being applied.

These notes are created carefully, with knowledge of the evaporationprocess of the perfume. The scents in the top and middle notes areinfluenced by the base notes, just as the scents of the base notes arealtered by the type of fragrance materials used as middle notes.

The sources of the scents used to create perfumes are either derivedfrom nature or created synthetically. Some perfumes incorporate over 100ingredients. Most perfumes, however, comprise on the order of 25-30ingredients, the majority of which are botanicals.

Plants have long been used in perfumery as a source of essential oilsand aroma compounds. These aromatics are usually secondary metabolitesproduced by plants as protection against herbivores, infections, as wellas to attract pollinators. Plants are by far the largest source offragrant compounds used in perfumery. The sources of these compounds maybe derived from various parts of a plant. A plant can offer more thanone source of aromatics. For instance the aerial portions and seeds ofcoriander have remarkably different odors from each other. Orangeleaves, blossoms, and fruit zest are the respective sources ofpetitgrain, neroli, and orange oils.

Perfume compositions are an important part of many products that arefound in many different industries, ranging from the luxury goodssectors, food services industries, to various household chemicals. Thepurpose of using perfume or fragrance compositions in these products isto affect customers through their sense of smell and entice them intopurchasing the perfume or perfumed product.

As such there is significant interest in producing a perfume formulationthat people will find aesthetically pleasing. By offering perfume orperfumed product in a package that contains seeds that grow plants whichsmell like one or more botanical ingredients of the perfume or perfumedproduct, even more consumer interest in the product can be generated,leading to increased sales.

The fact that scents can be used to influence shopping behavior andbuying decisions is well documented. The consumer who is consideringbuying a beautifully scented product such as perfume or a scented skincare product, while at the same time knowing that he or she is going tohave the materials to grow one or more botanicals that correspond inscent to one or more ingredients of the perfume or perfumed product,will render many prospective purchasers more likely to make a purchase.

Efforts have been directed to products having packages which have seedsincorporated therewith. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,653,225; 5,158,809; 6,013,524;US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0031237 and U.K. PatentApplication No. 2,281,713 all disclose products having plant seedsassociated with a product or packaging therefore, where the product orpackaging, or a portion thereof, may be planted so as to germinate theseeds and grow a plant.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0031237 discloses a scentedsleeve or pot cover for a floral grouping or flower pot made from asheet of material having a printed pattern and a scent corresponding tothe printed pattern thereon. No reference is made to a perfume orperfumed product.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,225 to Spector discloses a botanical seed starterassembly which includes seeds impregnated in a matrix, the matrix alsobeing impregnated with a scented medium which corresponds to the naturalfragrance of the flowers to be grown from the seeds. However, since thescented medium is impregnated in the matrix to be planted in the soil,the user will have to place his or her face near the soil in which theseeds are being germinated to experience the scent and the fragrance. Inaddition, the scent of Spector is not embodied in a perfume or perfumedproduct.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,524 to Fryers discloses a “living air freshener”which comprises a dwarf flowering plant in a scented growth medium. Likethe patent to Spector, the user is required to smell the growth mediumwhile it is planted in the soil to experience the scent of thebotanicals being grown.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,809 to Proctor discloses a combination reading cardand seed germination container embodied in a package, a portion of whichis adapted to be planted in soil to germinate the seeds within thepackaging. Proctor does not disclose the use of perfume or a perfumedproduct as the product contained within the container, nor thecorresponding of the seeds with the scent of the product containedwithin the package.

U.K. Patent Application No. 2,281,713 to Hurley discloses a greetingcard which incorporates seeds and which is intended to be planted insoil. In one embodiment, the card is impregnated with the scent of theflower to be grown by the seeds. Like the patent to Spector, the scentof the flower is not associated with a perfume or perfumed product suchas a skin care product.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide aperfume or perfumed product with which is associated packaging materialhaving seeds impregnated within or otherwise associated therewith, wherethe packaging material, or seeds alone, may be planted in soil to permitthe seeds to grow.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an environmentallyfriendly product package for a perfume or perfumed product having seedsassociated therewith which correspond to one or more of the ingredientsof the perfume to act as a purchase stimulant to the consumer.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide anenvironmentally friendly product package having seeds associatedtherewith which are adapted to grow plants which correspond to one ormore ingredients of the product contained within the package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A perfume or perfumed product with which is associated a package havingseeds impregnated within or otherwise associated therewith is disclosed.In one embodiment, the seeds are impregnated within or on, or otherwiseassociated with, the packaging material, and are adapted to be plantedin soil to permit the seeds to grow. Alternatively, the seeds may simplyreside in a pouch which is disposed within the package, where the seedsmay be planted in soil to permit the seeds to grow. The seeds grow oneor more botanicals that correspond to one or more ingredients of theperfume or perfumed product contained within the package so that thepurchaser of the product may grow plants that smell like one or more ofthe ingredients of the perfume or perfumed product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary product package arrangementsuitable for practicing the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the product package of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the product packaging ofFIG. 1 taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a seed-impregnated section of thepackaging of FIG. 1 having been disconnected from the product packageprior to being planted in soil.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the packagingarrangement of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion or all of the packaging ofFIG. 6 having been flattened prior to being planted in soil.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional elevational view of a modified productpackaging in accordance with this invention taken along lines 8-8 ofFIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

In this disclosure, the following definitions are intended to apply.

The term “bottle” is used to mean any container or other vessel which issuitable to house a perfume or perfumed product.

The term “botanical” is used to mean a substance which is made from, orcontains, one or more plants.

The term “packaging material” is used to mean the actual packagestructure which partially or completely encapsulates a packaged productas well as associated materials which are attached to or disposed withinsuch package structure.

The term “perfume” is intended to mean a scented product which has asone ingredient an aromatic derivative of a botanical.

The term “perfumed product” is intended to mean a product which containsas an ingredient a scented material which scented material itself has asone ingredient an aromatic derivative of a botanical. Examples ofperfumed products are such things as skin care products, body mists,skin and body care products, candles, detergents, and dishwasher andfabric softeners.

FIGS. 1-5 show a first embodiment of this invention which comprises apackage 10 for a perfume or perfumed product, the package 10 having anupper portion 12 and a lower or base portion 14, the upper portion 12being adapted to be fitted over or otherwise firmly but removablyassociated with base 14 when a container for a perfume or perfumedproduct, such as flacon or bottle 20, is housed therein. Package 10, aswell as bottle 20, may be configured in any shape desirable withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Package 10 may bewrapped in cellophane or other material for shipment and retail displayto secure the parts of the package 10 together and prevent tampering.Alternatively, package 10 may be comprised of only a top portion, only abottom portion, or any other combination of parts and/or components.

In this embodiment, a seed-carrying section 18 is connected to top 12.Section 18 may also assume any shape, color and/or configuration.Seed-carrying section 18 is associated with top 12 in such a way that itmay be detached from top 12 and planted in soil G (FIG. 5). It is to beunderstood that seed-carrying section 18 may, in addition oralternatively, be associated with bottom 14 or any other part of package10. It is also to be understood that the use of more than oneseed-carrying section, each being in the same or varying shapes, colors,and/or configurations, may be associated with top 12 and/or base 14.Still further, seed carrying-section 18 may be associated with bottle 20in addition to the arrangements discussed above, or in lieu thereof, ormay be a separate component housed within package 10. Still further inthe alternative, the seeds may be encompassed within a separate envelopeor pouch contained within package 10 (an example of which is shown inFIG. 8).

Seed-carrying section 18 may constitute a backing or filler for a cutout25 in top 12 and/or bottom 14 so as to be rendered more conspicuous, asshown in FIGS. 1-4. In the alternative, seed-carrying section 18 maysimply be connected to or otherwise reside within the interior ofpackage 10 (e.g. be free-floating therewithin, such as pouch or othercontainer 60 shown in FIG. 8, which may be placed in a receptacle suchas pocket 62 or the like) or be connected to the exterior of package 10.

Seed-carrying section 18 is preferably constructed of any of thewell-known bio-degradable materials and has seeds S impregnated thereinor otherwise associated therewith which grow one or more botanicals thatcorrespond to one or more ingredients of the perfume or perfumed productcontained within bottle 20.

FIGS. 6-7 depict a modified form of the invention, wherein the entirepackage 50 is constructed of a degradable material and impregnated orotherwise associated with seeds which grow flowers corresponding to oneor more ingredients of the perfume or perfumed product in bottle 20.

As can be seen, the entirety or a portion of package 50 is adapted to beflattened and planted in soil so that the seeds associated therewithwill grow into plants that correspond to one or more of the ingredientsof the perfume or perfumed product in bottle 20.

Alternatively, the seeds may be incorporated into or with a single ormultiple discreet portions of package 50. For example, the seeds may beincorporated into all or a portion of the top 52, bottom 54 or any oneor more of sides 56.

The seeds S chosen for inclusion in seed-carrying section 18, top 52,bottom 54, sides 56 and/or packet 60 are used to grow plants that areselected from the group consisting of those ingredients which areincluded in the perfume or perfumed product contained within bottle 20.That is, the seeds used in connection with this invention are selectedfrom the universe of all of the botanical ingredients of the particularperfume or perfumed product contained within package 10. By providingseeds selected specifically from the universe of botanical ingredientsthat make up the perfume or perfumed product contained within bottle 20,the purchaser of the product can grow plants the scent of which willcorrespond to one or more scents given off by the perfume.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed above with regard to specific embodiments of the presentinvention. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, andany element(s) that may cause or result in such benefits, advantages, orsolutions to become more pronounced are not to be construed as acritical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all theclaims. The invention is defined solely by the claims as issued.

1. A package for a container of perfume, comprised of: a package bodyadapted to at least partially encapsulate a perfume container; aseed-carrying section associated with the package, the seed-carryingsection having associated therewith one or more seeds adaptable to growinto one or more plants which correspond to one or more ingredients ofthe perfume.
 2. The package of claim 1, wherein the seed-carryingsection is physically attached to the package.
 3. The package of claim1, wherein the seed-carrying section is free floating within thepackage.
 4. The package of claim 1, wherein the seed-carrying sectionconsists of a portion of the packaging.
 5. The package of claim 1,wherein the seed-carrying section constitutes the entirety of thepackaging.
 6. A package for a perfume container, the containercontaining a perfume product which is comprised of one or more perfumeingredients, comprising: a packaging section adapted to at leastpartially encapsulate the container, the packaging material selectedfrom a group consisting of bio-degradable material and having associatedtherewith seeds which are adapted to grow plants which correspond to oneor more of the perfume ingredients.
 7. A package for a perfume containerof the type which is adapted to contain a perfume product, the perfumeproduct being made of perfume ingredients, comprising: a packagingmember; and a seed-carrying section with which is associated one or moreseeds which are adapted to grow into plants which correspond to one ormore of the perfume ingredients.
 8. The package of claim 7, furthercomprising: a cutout defined by the packaging member; and theseed-carrying section being associated with the cutout.
 9. The packageof claim 8, wherein the seed-carrying section occupies substantially anentire area defined by the cutout.
 10. The package of claim 8, whereinthe seed-carrying section is removably connected to an interior surfaceof the packaging member.
 11. The package of claim 8, wherein theseed-carrying section is removably connected to the perfume container.12. The package of claim 8, wherein the seed-carrying section is freefloating within the package.